Universal tester hardware

ABSTRACT

A universal testing system platform with a modular and symmetrical design that provides faraday cages in a flexible, efficient and space saving architecture for testing wireless devices.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/057,085, filed Feb. 29, 2016.

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/866,720, filed Sep. 25, 2015; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/866,752, filed Sep. 25, 2015; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/866,630, filed Sep. 25, 2015; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/866,780, filed Sep. 25, 2015; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/948,143, filed Nov. 20, 2015; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/929,180, filed Oct. 30, 2015; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/929,220, filed Oct. 30, 2015; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/948,925, filed Nov. 23, 2015; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/987,538, filed Jan. 4, 2016, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to a system for testing devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various embodiments of the invention, reference should be made to the description of embodiments below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 is a high-level exploded view of a rack system associated with a universal test station, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a high-level diagram of an exploded view of a Faraday cage associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a high-level diagram of an enlarged view of the base plate of a Faraday cage associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a high-level diagram of an enlarged view of the back plate of a Faraday cage associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a high-level diagram of an enlarged view of the connector plate of a Faraday cage associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a high-level diagram of a perspective view of a MOCA harness associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a high-level diagram of an exploded view of a MOCA harness associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments

FIG. 8 is a high-level diagram of a perspective view of a splitter assembly of the MOCA harness associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a high-level diagram of a router bracket of the MOCA harness associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Methods, systems, user interfaces, and other aspects of the invention are described. Reference will be made to certain embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these particular embodiments alone. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents that are within the spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Moreover, in the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these particular details. In other instances, methods, procedures, components, and networks that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art are not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the present invention.

According to certain embodiments, a universal test station for testing wireless devices such as wireless routers, cable modems, set top boxes, cable modems with eMTA (Embedded Multimedia Terminal Adapter, a combination cable modem and telephone adapter) comprises a modular rack with a symmetrical architecture and compact footprint. The symmetrical design provides for easy installation of the universal test station equipment. For example, the equipment includes:

-   -   2 MOCA harnesses     -   4 Faraday cages (each cage has 4 device test slots but the         embodiments not restricted to 4 slots per Faraday cage. The         number of slots per Faraday cage may vary from implementation to         implementation)     -   4 servers (the embodiments not restricted to 4 servers per rack.         The number of servers per rack may vary from implementation to         implementation).     -   keyboard and mouse     -   computer screen     -   4 PDUs (power distribution unit with multiple outputs to         distribute electric power to the equipment in the universal         tester station

FIG. 1 is a high-level exploded view of a rack system associated with a universal test station, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of a universal test station 100 set-up that includes a rack 101, MOCA harnesses 102, Faraday cages 103, test servers 104, keyboard and mouse shelf 105, computer screen 106 with attachment, power distribution units 107 and cover plates 108. The embodiments not restricted to 4. Faraday cages per rack. The number of Faraday cages per rack may vary from implementation to implementation The symmetrical design of rack 101 accommodates 2 Faraday cages on the right side 111 of rack 101 and another 2 Faraday cages (not shown in FIG. 1) on the left side 112 of rack 101. Similarly, the symmetrical design of rack 101 accommodates one MOCA harness that is accessible at the front side 109 of rack 101 and another MOCA harness that is accessible at the rear side 110 of rack 101. Further, rack 101 can accommodate 4 servers. The embodiments not restricted to 4 servers per rack. The number of servers per rack may vary from implementation to implementation.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the symmetrical design of the rack not only provides for easy installation but also provides easy access to the test equipment supported by the rack. For example, as can be from FIG. 1, each test slot of the Faraday cages are easily accessible from the right side 111 and left side 112 of rack 101. The test slots of the Faraday cages are easily accessible because the door assemblies face outward away from the rack. The computer screen 106, mouse and keyboard shelf are easily accessible from the front side 109 of rack 101.

According to certain embodiments, the compact footprint of the rack 101 allows for the set up of multiple similar racks in the testing area of a room. According to certain embodiments, each rack 101 is approximately 7 feet in height and 3 feet in width and has a depth that can accommodate the Faraday cages as described herein. Each rack 101 can be assembled using standard 19 inch rack rails and rack shelves that are approximately 3 feet in width and with a depth that can accommodate the Faraday cages as described herein. Further, rack 101 is not restricted to 4 Faraday cages, 4 servers, and 4 PDUs. Since rack 101 is modular in nature, rack 101 can be easily expanded to support an increased number of MOCA harnesses and/or Faraday cages and/or servers and/or PDUs, etc., depending on the floor space available and/or the needs or business objectives or technical objectives of the test facility or of the associated enterprise. Similarly, modular rack 101 can be easily reduced to support a reduced number of MOCA harnesses and/or Faraday cages and/or servers and/or PDUs, etc.

As a non-limiting example, each universal test station 100 is supplied with Internet connectivity for remote management and technical support of the universal test station 100. As a non-limiting example, Internet access for the universal test station 100 comprises a static public IP address. As another non-limiting example, each universal test station 100 has two “20A” outlets.

According to certain embodiments, as a non-limiting example, each server in the universal test station 100 is of a 3U rackmount size (e.g., 17.1″×5.1″×25.5″) and supports the testing of 4 devices under test (DUTs) simultaneously. Each DUT when undergoing tests are installed in a given test slot of a given Faraday cage of universal test station 100.

According to certain embodiments, as a non-limiting example, the computer screen, keyboard and mouse (not shown in FIG. 1) are used for interacting with a web based GUI (e.g., GUI is an operator dashboard used for setting up the tests for one or more DUTs). The computer screen is attached to a wall mount arm, which in turn is attached to the rack. The computer screen can be rotated 90° and can be tilted downwards according to the needs of the operator. As a non-limiting example, each server is equipped with at least the following components of the latest engineering design (if appropriate):

-   -   7×Quad Ethernet card: Network interface cards are used to test         the LAN/WAN functionality of the device under test (DUT). The         ports include cables that connect to the connector plate of a         given test slot of a given Faraday Cage (there are 4 test slots         in a Faraday cage, according to certain embodiments). The DUT is         connected to the server ports through the connector plate.     -   4×Dual Band Wireless adapter: The adapter cards are used to test         the WiFi functionality of the DUT. Each adapter card supports 2         bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac standard. The         SMA (SubMiniature version A connectors or semi-precision coaxial         RF connectors) cables run from the adaptor card ports to the         connector plates of a given Faraday Cage where WiFi antennas are         connected.

According to certain embodiments, there are total of 4 Faraday (RF) cages per universal test station 100. Each RF cage supports 4 test slots to support a total of 16 slots. Two of the RF cages are on right side of Rack 101 and the other two RF cages are on left side of Rack 101. The RF cages help protect the DUT from WiFi interference from nearby devices and DUTs. The WiFi signal strength and reverse/forward bandwidth of signals are improved to great extent through the use of RF cages, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a high-level diagram of an exploded view of a Faraday cage associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments. In FIG. 2, Faraday cage 103 comprises 4 test slots (e.g., test slot 200). Faraday cage 103 includes a back plate 201, right end plate 202, left end plate 203, 3 septum walls (such as septum wall 204), 4 connector plates (such as connector plate 205), 4 door assemblies (such as door assembly 206) with hinges 210, 3 center stiles (such as center stile 216), 2 rack ears (such as rack ear 207), a base plate 208, and a top plate 209, according to certain embodiments. The embodiments are not restricted to 4 slots per Faraday cage. The number of slots per Faraday cage may vary from implementation to implementation. The sizing of rack 101 can be modified to accommodate Faraday cages that have more than or less than 4 slots per Faraday cage according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a high-level diagram of an enlarged view of the base plate of a Faraday cage associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments. In FIG. 3, base plate 208 of a Faraday cage associated with the universal test station comprises air holes 302 and a plurality of rivet holes 304 (for assembling a given Faraday cage) as can be seen around the perimeter 306 of base plate 208, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a high-level diagram of an enlarged view of the back plate of a Faraday cage associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments. In FIG. 4, back plate 201 of a Faraday cage associated with the universal test station comprises cut-outs 402 for associated connector plates (e.g., see connector plate 205 of FIG. 2), and a plurality of rivet holes 404 (for assembling a given Faraday cage and for installing the connector plates), according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a high-level diagram of an enlarged view of the connector plate of a Faraday cage associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 5 shows a front view 205A, and a back view 205B of connector plate 205. Connector plate 205 includes 7 RJ45 coupler holes 501, 2 RJ12 coupler holes 502, 2 F-Jack to F-Jack adapters 503, 2 SMA connectors 504, and a power harness 505, according to certain embodiments. A given DUT is installed one of the slots of a Faraday cage. The installed DUT is thus connected to the LAN, MOCA, WIFI interfaces (associated with the universal test station) and power through the connector plate 205, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a high-level diagram of a perspective view of a MOCA harness associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 6 shows a MOCA harness 102 that includes a harness chassis 601, end plates (such as end plate 602), a top plate 603 (with holding holes 606) and 16 router brackets 604 (8 router brackets on each side of the harness chassis). The router brackets are associated with wireless routers configured as MoCA LAN Bridge and MoCA WAN Bridge for the test slots of the Faraday cages. Thus, each MoCA harness has total of 8 MoCA LAN Bridges and 8 MoCA WAN Bridges, according to certain embodiments. The MoCA LAN Bridges and MoCA WAN Bridges are used for testing the MoCA LAN/WAN functionality of a given DUT, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a high-level diagram of an exploded view of a MoCA harness associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 7 shows a MoCA harness 102 that includes a harness chassis 601 (with bottom plate 703, and side walls 704), end plates 602, a top plate 603 and router brackets 604 (there are 8 router brackets on each side of the harness chassis 601, but only one router bracket is shown in FIGS. 7), and 2 splitter assemblies 702 (only 1 splitter assembly is shown in FIG. 7). The splitter assembly is designed to help in cable management and the routing of cables from the MoCA harness to the connector plates of the Faraday cages. Further, the splitter assembly makes for easy maintenance and convenient replacement of parts such as attenuators and splitters, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a high-level diagram of a perspective view of a splitter assembly of the MOCA harness associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments. In FIG. 8, the splitter assembly 702 includes four 3-way splitters 802, and 4 wire tabs 804, according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a high-level diagram of a router bracket of the MoCA harness associated with the universal test station, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 9 shows a top view 605A, a right side view 605B and a front side view 605C of the router bracket 605, according to certain embodiments. Router bracket 605 includes a bare modem card bracket 901, a printed circuit board 902, a front bezel 903, and screws 904, according to certain embodiments. In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to numerous specific details that may vary from implementation to implementation. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. 

We claim:
 1. A test station for testing electronic devices, comprising: a rack having first and second sides, the first and second sides being opposite each other; a first faraday cage located on the first side of the rack, the first faraday cage including at least one test slot, each of the at least one test slots having an opening for receiving an electronic device for testing, the openings facing the first side of the rack; and a second faraday cage located on the second side of the rack, the second faraday cage including at least one test slot, each of the at least one test slots having an opening for receiving an electronic device for testing, the openings facing the second side of the rack.
 2. The test station for testing electronic devices of claim 1, wherein the electronic devices comprise wireless devices.
 3. The test station for testing electronic devices of claim 2, wherein the wireless devices comprise wireless routers.
 4. The test station for testing electronic devices of claim 2, wherein the wireless devices comprise set top boxes.
 5. The test station for testing electronic devices of claim 2, wherein the wireless devices comprise cable modems.
 6. The test station for testing electronic devices of claim 1, further comprising at least one MoCA chassis for testing MoCA functionality associated with the electronic devices.
 7. The test station for testing electronic devices of claim 1, further comprising at least one server located in the rack.
 8. The test station for testing electronic devices of claim 1, further comprising a computer display affixed to the rack.
 9. The test station for testing electronic devices of claim 1, further comprising a keyboard shelf affixed to the rack.
 10. A universal test station for testing devices in the presence of radio frequency interference, comprising: a modular rack having a front side, a rear side, and right side, and a left side; a first faraday cage located on the right side of the modular rack, the first faraday cage including a plurality of test slots, each of the plurality of test slots having a door assembly for receiving a wireless device for testing, the door assemblies facing to the right of the modular rack; and a second faraday cage located on the left side of the modular rack, the second faraday cage including a plurality of test slots, each of the plurality of test slots having a door assembly for receiving a wireless device for testing, the door assemblies facing to the left of the modular rack.
 11. The universal test station of claim 10, wherein the devices comprise wireless devices.
 12. The universal test station of claim 11, wherein the wireless devices comprise wireless routers.
 13. The universal test station of claim 10, further comprising at least one MoCA chassis for testing MoCA functionality associated with the devices.
 14. The universal test station of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of MoCA chassis, wherein at least one of the plurality of MoCA chassis is mounted on the front side of the modular rack and at least one of the plurality of MoCA chassis is mounted on the rear side of the modular rack.
 15. A universal test station for testing wireless devices in the presence of radio frequency interference, comprising: a modular rack having a front side, a rear side, and right side, and a left side; and a plurality of faraday cages, each of the faraday cages including a plurality of test slots, each of the test slots having an opening for receiving a wireless device for testing, wherein at least one of the plurality of faraday cages is located on the right side of the modular rack and the test slots open toward the right side of the modular rack, and at least of the plurality of faraday cages is located on the left side of the modular rack and the test slots open toward the left side of the modular rack.
 16. The universal test station of claim 15, wherein the wireless devices comprise wireless routers.
 17. The universal test station of claim 15, wherein the wireless devices comprise set top boxes.
 18. The universal test station of claim 15, wherein the wireless devices comprise cable modems.
 19. The universal test station of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of MoCA chassis wherein at least one of the plurality of MoCA chassis is mounted on the front side of the modular rack and at least one of the plurality of MoCA chassis is mounted on the rear side of the modular rack. 